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Hikkaduwa, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, is a relatively small town that has a well-developed tourist industry, catering to visitors who come for its white sand beaches and the excellent diving, snorkeling and surfing conditions of the Indian Ocean. Bear in mind that May to October is monsoon season, when the waters are rough and some hotels, restaurants and other tourist-dependent businesses temporarily close.

Sights

Perhaps the best-known sight in Hikkaduwa is its offshore coral reef, locally referred to as the Coral Sanctuary or Coral Gardens, which runs parallel to the coast in water shallow enough to swim to from the beach. The reef includes a variety of colorful coral species and is inhabited by sea turtles and many tropical fish. Visitors can rent snorkel gear and explore the reef independently or join a glass-bottom boat tour. Another local natural treasure is Hikkaduwa Lake, where boat tours also are available; many bird species and monitor lizards are among the wildlife there. The Gangarama Maha Vihara Buddhist temple is worth a visit to experience the cultural side of Hikkaduwa. The temple is known for its ornate murals, hand-painted by a single monk.

Activities

Hikkaduwa is a renowned year-round surfing destination, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world. Full-service outfitter Mambo’s Surfers Paradise (mambo.nu) caters to Hikkaduwa tourists with free surf information, board rentals and repairs, a surf school and guided tours, as well as accommodations and a beach bar. Scuba diving excursions are widely available, with visibility at its prime from November to March. Poseidon Diving Station (divingsrilanka.com), Barracuda Diving Center (hikkaduwabarracuda.com) and Blue Deep Dive Centre (bluedeepdiving.com) are local dive companies offering PADI certification courses and trips to dive sites beyond the reef, where you might see manta rays and moray eels.

Near Hikkaduwa

In the forest near Meetiyagoda, about four miles from Hikkaduwa, is a moonstone mine that welcomes visitors. Explore the channels dug into the ground that yield the semiprecious stones, then see how they are polished and transformed into jewelry at the adjacent factory and gift shop. An interesting sight to the north of Hikkaduwa is Seenigama Vihara, a temple built on its own island. Local legend says that a victim of theft can pray with a special oil lamp at the temple to curse the thief with misfortune.

Lodging and Dining

Hikkaduwa lacks any big-name international chain hotels but does offer a wide range of lodging from luxury beachfront hotels to affordable guesthouses. On the more luxurious side are Coral Rock by Amaya (amayaresorts.com), a boutique hotel with an ayurvedic spa; the Coral Sands Hotel (coralsandshotel.com), with 82 ocean-facing rooms; and Hikkaduwa Beach Hotel (hikkaduwabeachhotel.com), which offers family rooms and suites among its accommodation options. Numerous smaller, budget-friendly inns and guest houses are located in the Wewala and Narigama areas of Hikkaduwa.

Transport

Hikkaduwa is located on the Galle Road, the very busy thoroughfare connecting the cities of Colombo and Galle. While the dense traffic on Galle Road calls for tourists to be cautious when traveling in and around Hikkaduwa, it also makes it relatively easy to get to and from the town. Regular buses travel between Hikkaduwa and Colombo, Galle and Ambalangoda. Trains, which according to Lonely Planet tend to be crowded and slow, connect Hikkaduwa with towns up and down the coast, as well as Colombo, Galle, Matara and Kandy. Taxis -- generally minibuses for up to eight people -- are readily available, especially in front of larger hotels.

Disclosure

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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About the Author

A writer of diverse interests, Joanne Thomas has penned pieces about road trips for Hyundai, children's craft projects for Disney and wine cocktails for Robert Mondavi. She has lived on three continents and currently resides in Los Angeles, where she is co-owner and editor of a weekly newspaper. Thomas holds a BSc in politics from the University of Bristol, England.